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Around the world, nearly 17 billion gallons of treated drinkable water (64 billion liters) are lost every day to leaks. With growing populations and diminishing freshwater supplies, wasted water and the associated wasted electricity and CO2 production needs to be better controlled.
Aging and leaking wastewater pipelines are a worldwide problem for both the wastewater industry and its communities. Wastewater contains toxins, pathogens, and other pollutants that leaking pipes can inject unseen into the underground environment, including aquifers. There can also be sizable fines, consent decrees, and other legal consequences.
Mining operations worldwide are highly vulnerable to the impacts of moisture. The integrity of toxic waste dams is just one major issue.
There are 122,000 earthen dams in the Unites States and Europe, many between 50 and 100 years old; and 24,513 miles of levees throughout the U.S., many are earthen, aging, and under-uninspected.
Failure would be catastrophic for downstream populations.
140,000 miles of U.S. freight rail generates $219B of output and $26B in tax revenue. That freight may include toxic or explosive contents.
Excess moisture is a major cause of failure.
There are 4 million miles of paved roads in North America and 5 million kilometers in Europe, with minimal inspections for excess moisture.
Moisture is the leading cause of roadway failure.
Large property installations that include buildings, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and other paved surfaces can face the same damage from hidden underground soil moisture that towns and cities do.
